Where do you get your wood from?

[Adamc]

Esteemed flyers,

I'm at the point of reckoning and welcome some input. I'm starting to build more larger gliders and can't source wood over 48 inchs length. I can spend a lot of pocket money on decent wood table saws and thickeners to do it myself or see if anyone out there knows of suppliers who can supply longer dimensions.

Anyone know of a decent source of long spruce and the like?

Adam

[Mark Erwood]

Hi Adam,
Getting specialist timber like spruce is becoming increasingly difficult. I used to use Timbmet but they closed our local warehouse and I had to find other sources. I would suggest trying the local boatyards as some of them will still be doing wooden boat repairs and restoration. Also a word on thicknessers, my industrial thicknesser doesn't like going below 5mm. I have gone down to 2mm by packing up the bed but it can get a bit fraught. Success depends on the rise of grain in the timber. Look at the specs carefully if you buy.
Good luck, Mark

[Pat Marsden]

Slec at Watton supply all sizes of wood and can also cut special sizes. Give them a ring and have a chat about what you want, they are always happy to help if at all possible.

[geoff_crew]

I agree with you Pat, they are very helpful and competitive and can supply 72"length spruce strip no problem, a good company in my view

Geoff

[Adamc]

Slec,

Yes that was what I thought but there website only quoted a set size.

Interestingly I was in bq yesterday routing through the free offcuts and joked with the guy operating the cutting service that I was building a glider with them.

Turns out there are a few regulars who do use the pine strip for this. I checked it out and yes you can get 2.4m lengths at various small measurements as low as 6mm sq. The grain was surprisingly good.

The key is to visit on the day of delivery and take the best bits. £1.80 for 6 x 15mm.

[John Vella]

I would like to agree with all above and find SLEC service second to none. I would like to add that Wickes is a very good source of 2.4 m length 6mm strip Baltic Pine. A huge stock to choose from to have straight grain spars. Regards John.

[Barry_Cole]

I would like to agree with all above and find SLEC service second to none. I would like to add that Wickes is a very good source of 2.4 m length 6mm strip Baltic Pine. A huge stock to choose from to have straight grain spars. Regards John.

I think the only issue with these, is that they usually have joins in them.

BC

[Adamc]

Thanks guys

All helpful stuff. Have decided santa is going to bring me proxxon table saw this year to help as well.

Adam

[John Vella]

I would like to agree with all above and find SLEC service second to none. I would like to add that Wickes is a very good source of 2.4 m length 6mm strip Baltic Pine. A huge stock to choose from to have straight grain spars. Regards John.

I think the only issue with these, is that they usually have joins in them.

BC

Sorry Barry , there are no joins in my spars made from 15mm ×6mm Wickes Baltic Pine.( Charlesworth MU13 build blog) Lovely straight wood. Regards John.

[Jess Nicholls]

I've still got a fair bit of balsa etc. kicking about from my Balsa UK days if anyone is interested !!

All gone now. Thanks